November 2009 n.01
Young People building Europe.
Welcome to Young Innovations Europe (YIE), a fresh and exciting magazine created for and by young people interested in exercising positive leadership in their own communities in groundbreaking ways. Showcasing the brightest and most innovative youth-led and youth-motivated initiatives effecting positive change and youth participation in Europe, we are engaging with our commitment to encourage young people to inform and motivate other young people. Whatever your interest, be it politics, environment, sport, art, science or urgent global challenges, there is something here to fixate you and prompt your next step. We shine a light on the most compelling and original programmes and innovations in Europe, and with every article include a ‘resource box’ packed with links, materials, and tips in the hope of providing practical suggestions to encourage your interests. Today’s global challenges require collective action and shared responsibility and YIE is giving a voice to young people taking charge of their futures and shaping the present. YIE is a unique platform for young people in Europe to inform more, learn more, act more and hope more for the world in which we live, and we hope this powerful combination will resonate with an even wider audience. The exciting innovations unveiled inside celebrate youth visionaries today and stimulate hope for tomorrow. Now is the time to listen. We hope you enjoy this magazine as much as we enjoyed putting it together! This is your platform for expression, so if you feel inspired contact us and play your role as active agents of change in your own communities for boundless benefit.
The Young Innovation Europe logo, project and content are covered by copyright.
Index 4
12
Etudes Sans Frontieres
EUROPOCKET TV
Borderless Education for PEACE
When tv goes digital Editor Selene Biffi
6 Dance4life Stopping HIV/AIDS with a beat
8
YIE Strategy Adviser Silvia Raccagni
14
Project Coordinator Michela Bettinelli Content Coordinator Peter Seenan Graphics Francesco Franciosi www.francescofranciosi.com
WIMPS Bringing Democracy to the Youth
Writers Egle Buitvydaite, Gaia Chernetich, Paola Ciuffi, Luciana Grosu, Fizza Hasan, Francesca Ranazzi, Peter Seenan
16
BrainStore
Young Voices
When the ideas are not only coincidental brainwaves
Fostering Inclusion in Northern Ireland
Images Courtesy of Kristin Funcke, Milos Stojiljkovic, BrainStore, Arne Forstenberg, Europocket Tv and Mat Crozier
10 GlobalFOCUS
Sponsors:
Creating a sustainable future for the Planet International Youth Foundation
Starbucks
If you want to get involved, tell us about an innovation or for general enquiries, please send an email to: info@youthactionforchange.org
Young Innovations Europe is a project of Youth Action for Change (YAC), a global, youth-led organisation inspiring and empowering young people to become active agents of change in their own communities and the world at large
| ACADEMIA
by Peter Seenan
EtudesSansFrontieres Borderless Education for PEACE Etudes Sans Frontières (Studies Without Borders) is a student organisation created in 2003 by a group of French students eager to help their counterparts in war-ravaged regions fulfill educational aspirations in Europe. ESF was driven to formation by the conflict in Chechnya at the beginning of this century and the desire of the founders to effect tangible positive change for peers trapped by war and violence. With this vision, determination and pragmatism, a group of young Chechens were enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programmes at notable French academic institutions and supported by Etudes Sans Frontières during their studies. Etudes Sans Frontières has grown from its original vision to enable around 200 students to study at universities in Western countries or in their own countries, if the situation allows it. For every education offered there is an emphasis and hope that students can return home to make a positive contribution to the societies they leave behind. Through the educational opportunities presented, the programme aims to mould young people into leaders of the future, able to contribute to the development and rebuilding of their native countries and regions, preparing them for professional careers with the likes of local NGOs, media or humanitarian organizations. Etudes Sans Frontières operates with a dedicated team of volunteers; the glue that
binds them together is a shared conviction to make a difference to young people’s lives. ESF Students’ commitment is part of the support foreign students can expect to receive when they come to study in Europe. Not only does Etudes Sans Frontières provide financial and administrative backing with grants, or by covering all costs of an education in Europe; its volunteers commit themselves to assisting with students’ daily lives; social and cultural emersion, education, professional development, and friendship. Etudes Sans Frontières selects students with the help of a network of local contacts in the students’ countries of origin. Correspondents disseminate information and help select candidates through an application process that includes comprehensive applications forms and interviews. Selection is competitive but the rewards are great. Students can study from six months to three years, and upon completion of their programmes they are assisted to return home and put into action a project planned during their period of study. Since its inception Etudes Sans Frontières has expanded its operations to bring young people from the Democratic Republic
Chechen students in France
of Congo, Rwanda and Western Sahara in addition to Chechnya. Like the French members of Etudes Sans Frontières, Norwegian ESF students offer similar support for Chechens selected to study in Norway: “[Etudes Sans Frontières] in Norway aims to offer students financial and academic help, assist them in their everyday lives and help them to prepare their civic projects.” There are over 500 young Europeans who are active members of a network of ESF groups and interest is growing rapidly. Since its inception Etudes Sans Frontières has established itself in Italy, Belgium, Canada, Spain, and Germany. The student-led approach of ESF is unlike traditional exchange programmes in so far as the students take the lead where there might normally be a foundation, government or academic body. This model is attractive because it encourages students to consider strengthening their universities’
5
Peter Seenan Peter graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2006 with an MA in Political Science. He has work experience at the United Nations in South Africa, the International Organisation for Migration in Helsinki, Finland and most recently he was a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in India. Such a diverse range of experience has given him a broad understanding of youth, social development and cultural change which are some of his main interests.
RESOURCE BOX international commitments, promoting cultural diversity on campus and improving the lives of exceptional young people from underdeveloped parts of the world. Voluntary commitment is the backbone of Etudes Sans Frontières and volunteers work on every aspect of ESF’s operations from project feasibility studies to public awareness campaigns and fundraising. Etudes Sans Frontières relies on public subsidies in France, but says Aurélia Chaudagne, President of Etudes Sans Frontières France, “[ESF] does not think receiving public funds restricts [them].” It is independent from any political agenda and supported by funding from the city council and other regional funds. ESF is also dependent upon donations from private individuals, private sector grants, and money raised from ESF campaigns, such as producing and selling greetings cards. The blend of independence, innovation and new ideas at the heart of ESF fundraising,
built upon students’ strong social networks and support for a virtuous cause, is a potent and exportable mix and helps to explain the successful and fluid expansion of the Etudes Sans Frontières network. Through a recent partnership with the Chechnya Advocacy Network moreover, ESF hopes to expand its operations to give young Chechens the opportunity to study in the United States. The model of student management and peer advice on which Etudes Sans Frontières has built its success, has demonstrated its flexibility as a sustainable and exportable model in universities in Europe. In partnership with universities in the United States and Chechnya Advocacy Network, Etudes Sans Frontières is hopeful that US students will also grab the opportunity like their European counterparts, to make this dream a reality for young Chechens and other nationalities in the years to come.
Etudes Sans Frontières Studies Without Borders www.etudessansfrontieres.org Contacts: contact@etudessansfrontieres.org Resources: Studies Without Borders Norway studieswithoutbordersnorway.blogspot.com studierutengrenser.blogspot.com Studies Without Borders Germany www.studieren-ohne-grenzen.org Chechnya Advocacy Network www.chechnyaadvocacy.org Other Youth-led Opportunities Young People have their voices heard at UNICEF ‘Voices of Youth’ www.unicef.org/voy Europe’s Largest Student-led Organisation www.aegee.eu
| ARTS
Breaking news from Serbia:
Stopping HIV/AIDS
with a beat
by Gaia Chernetich
In 2003 two young men - Dennis Karpes and Ilco van der Linde - decided to involve themselves in the battle against HIV/AIDS, generating an idea that has given birth to a new strategy against HIV/AIDS: Dance4Life. The message? Simple and straightforward: start dancing, stop AIDS. With the purpose of empowering young people to take action themselves to push back HIV and AIDS, Dance4Life is about the belief that HIV and AIDS can and will be stopped the moment young people have the power to stand up and say no to unsafe sex, to change not only their own attitudes and misconceptions about HIV and AIDS, but also those of the people around them and to take action to become part of the solution - a solution for life. About Dance4Life “The idea was to do an in-schools programme that would be different from all the ones that already existed. It would appeal to young people in all its aspects, the right tone of voice, the right media support, icons and artists involved to promote the concept and the most inspirational event as a reward for those youth who participated
in the schools programme. The events are connected to each other via satellite so that the young people can see and hear each other and dance at the same time, in their own countries”. The complete programme is now called ‘Schools4Life’ and it is composed of four parts: the Heart Connection Tour, Skills4Life, Act4Life, and Dance4Life event. Each part aims to focus young people’s attention to themes like prevention, information and involvement. The Dance4Life event is the climax of the whole programme: it is organized worldwide every two years on the Saturday before World AIDS Day (the next one is on 27th November 2010). Agents of change (young people who have taken part in Schools4Life) are invited to use their voice and feet. United by one cause and connected live via satellite, they dance together for life in front of each other and the world. They demonstrate what they believe in and what they have achieved as part of Dance4Life. Dance4Life started in Serbia at the beginning of 2008 and just a few months later - 8th July - the first public events were staged (the first ‘Flash Mobs’ ever organised in Serbia: large groups of people who gather suddenly in a public place, perform a dance and then quickly leave) in the cities of Belgrade, Loznica, Novi Sad and Novi Pazar simultaneously. Many small groups
of 5-10 people met at the most important landmarks in each of the 4 selected cities, so that there were approximately 100 participants in each city. They were all dressed normally except for the D4L t-shirt they were holding in their hands or wearing under their clothes. They were accompanied with musical backing by trucks previously prepared and the Flash Mobs began in harmony at 11.15am. As the Dance4Life trucks played music people danced, and then in a flash, as suddenly as it all began, it ended and people and vehicles drifted away. The cities returned to normality but something very monumental had just taken place: the sight which greeted passers-by for those few seconds, in what is an inspirational youth-led spectacle for health and life. In Serbia Dance4Life has already participated in many festivals where Flash Mobs were enthusiastically encouraged and demanded, including the EXIT Festival, the FIST Festival of International Creativity and at the Belgrade Beer Fest. The Serbian D4L initiative is implemented by ‘Y-Peer Global Network’, and the owner of the concept is the NGO ‘Jazas’. Y-Peer is a global network including 63 youth led social organisations and NGOs from 18 different Serbian cities.
7
Dance4Life is active in 19 countries: Germany, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, UK, USA, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Milos Stojiljkovic (born in 1982) lives in Belgrade, Serbia. He is the international coordinator of the Y-Peer Global Network, the national coordinator for Dance4Life in Serbia (since March 2008), and also the Coordinator of the Youth Mobile Team for Jazas. GC How do you face your role? MS “My role in the Dance4Life project is to coordinate all of the activities at the national level and to make sure everything is perfect. On the other side I’m also the link between national and international Dance4Life. Since Dance4Life is a long lasting project, it will last until 2014 at least, and therefore we need a lot of resources for this so I’m also a fundraiser for Dance4Life Serbia”. GC What is the relation between you and the team?
Dance4Life Flashmobs in Serbia
MS “Lucky for me I’m not alone in Dance4Life Serbia. In each city I have a local coordinator and local PR with their teams for different purposes. Curiously the whole Dance4Life Serbia project is led by youth for youth. I’m the oldest person in the team and I’m 26 years old. Our youngest local coordinator is 16 Years old and she already has a big experience in NGO work. With the support of my team, there is no task that we cannot accomplish”. It is possible to contact Milos Stojiljkovic at: milos.stojiljkovic@ypeer.net
Gaia Chernetich Gaia is a contemporary dance performer and a student in Intercultural Communication and Multimedia at the University of Pavia. She is interested in Arts, Philosophy and Literature.
RESOURCE BOX Dance4Life International contacts: www.dance4life.com info@dance4life.com Ypeer www.ypeer.net Ypeer is an international network on which D4L-Serbia is based Jazas www.jazas.net Jazas is the organization owner of the Serbian national concept Falshmobs The basics of Flashmobbing en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashmob How to start a Flashmob www.instructables.com /id/How-to-Start-A-Flash-Mob/ Online community for people organising Flashmobs www.mashflob.com
| BUSINESS
BrainStore when ideas are not only coincidental brainwaves by Paola Ciaffi
Switzerland is commonly known to be home to famous watches, chocolate and banks. But there is another reason why it should be
mentioned more often: in a cream-coloured building based in Biel, a brain-
sign stands out and people generate ideas using glitter, glue, crayons, beads, coloured paper and a white bathtub… “I will give you a penny for every good idea” - my grandmother used to say when I was a kid. I would have been rich by now, if that were true and, if in 1989, I was one of the co-founders of BrainStore, the idea factory located at the intersection of Plankestrasse and Rueschlistrasse in Biel, Switzerland. The co-founders, instead, were Markus Mettler and Nadja Schnetzler, two students who decided to put together a small network of youngsters with a good knowledge of their age group (opinion leaders in schools and publishers of a school newspaper) to institutionalise the concept of producing ideas for companies, organizations and individuals by applying an industrial process.
Does it not sound like a contradiction? We all probably grew up convinced that great ideas are the results of flashes of brilliance, lucky coincidences, deep inspiration or those “eureka moments” that suddenly strike us randomly while we are occupied in other various activities. Well, here’s the news: BrainStore’s philosophy indeed challenges this common thinking, by devising ideas as products and using their proven Idea Factory Process to select, polish and complete them. This process is the result of many years of research, development and testing. It represents a remarkable balance of simplicity, speed, scalability, repeatability and an exceptionally broad range of possible applications (product development, process improvement,
marketing, naming, branding, HR-related issues, new business models and much more). It has all of the elements of an industrial process, so it is possible to follow an idea from one step to another.
There are 4 steps to the Idea Factory Process and they can be schematically and briefly summed up as follows:
1. Acquisition of ideas: BrainStore
combines in-depth internet research (usually done by internal employees) with trend research on location - anywhere in the world thousands of people (mainly in their teens) are asked to express their ideas. The results, which are often surprising and provocative, are then integrated into the Idea Events;
2. Compression: a team of in-house
employees and outside experts sort through ideas and pick out the best ones; then professional designers visualize the most promising ideas, providing a basis for comparison. This way complex concepts become clear and easy to understand;
3. Test: the leading ideas are presented
to key staff members of the organization that requested BrainStore’s activities and experience; then staff members rate and comment on the ideas and discuss the results;
4. Finishing: The implementation
of specific initiatives begins (marketing campaigns and positioning strategies). Foundational questions are answered: which initiative will be supported, when, and by whom? The combination of two factors seems particularly interesting in the process: the inclusion of insiders and outsiders in idea projects, which represents BrainStore’s central focus since its foundation, and the regular cooperation with youngsters, through which the Swiss idea factory quickly made a name for itself as an expert in «teenager and adolescent marketing». Young Ideas Whenever BrainStore has to face big creative challenges, it calls in its trump cards: the youth. To have fresh and genuine ideas, BrainStore engages the help of thousands of youth. They represent the BrainNet, a global network comprised mainly of young people aged 13 to 20 plus some adult professionals, who help BrainStore by hunting out new trends and offbeat sources of inspiration. “We’re not looking for average ideas,” says Mettler. “We’re looking for crazy ideas. We use kids to find those ideas, because they know how to talk without letting their thinking get in the way”.
9
network to develop ideas together during creative workshops. “One of the ideas behind the company was to blend the professionalism of experts with the unbridled enthusiasm of kids,” says Schnetzler. The basic idea of putting fresh, youthful, brash youngsters together with decision makers is still today the primary principle behind the entire idea-finding process. Can we expect more from this vivid idea factory? Mettler, Schnetzler and their eighty employees, as well as the over 5000 freelances scattered everywhere in the world, are constantly looking for new trends and stimuli to work on and new creative ways to let people know about BrainStore. They keep working at the growth of their Idea-Shop (the ‘BrainStore’, just so) for private people, where ideas can be bought over the counter. These ideas are created following the same pattern as ideas for companies, but within a very short time, ideally within 15 minutes. Moreover in 2008 they developed the Idea Factory software, so their clients have now the opportunity of using BrainStore’s software and process in-house to develop their own Idea Factory processes, to benchmark and position their own initiatives. And they are always looking for young people with open eyes, open ears and open minds who are willing to use the creativity and the enthusiasm of their age to generate ideas for someone else by playing with thoughts and imagination. As Markus Mettler says “great ideas start with completely unrealistic thoughts. If you’re serious about being creative, you’ve got to give yourself license to be playful”.
Paola Ciaffi Passionate about culture and communication, Paola obtained a degree in Sciences of Communication from ‘La Sapienza’ University of Rome. Curious, thirsty for knowledge, easily happy for the beauty of simple things, her favourite activities are travelling, writing and reading. She now lives in Rome after she spent a few years in Ireland, where she still visits regularly.
RESOURCE BOX BrainStore www.brainstore.com Contacts: welcome@brainstore.com Other websites: The Idea Factory www.ideafactory.com Future Concept Lab www.futureconceptlab.com “Building an Idea Factory” in www.businessweek.com /magazine/content/04_41/b3903462.htm Ideificio www.ideificio.com
An important milestone in the development of the process was the introduction of the CreativeTeam where, step by step, the clients meet with youngsters from BrainStore’s A BrainStore Session
Book: “The Idea Machine”, written by BrainStore co-founder Nadja Schnetzler (Wiley edition): the book describes Industrial IdeaProduction and Brainstore’s methodology Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSIrdrzqtnM
| ENVIRONMENT
“With a global perspective on climate change we want to influence policies and investments by focusing on the possibilities of the future“
GlobalFOCUS
CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE PLANET by Egle Buitvydaite
Today humans intensively burn fossil fuels, irresponsibly increase the amount of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere and view targets of the Kyoto Protocol with detachment, forgetting the fundamental value for the whole of humanity. In an era of global warming, harmony with
nature has become the greatest challenge that the human race has ever faced. Now as never before it is extremely important to find global solutions to save the planet. The organization GlobalFOCUS sets such goals and aims
to make a difference in the world. GlobalFOCUS is a project lead platform for climate entrepreneurs, initiated by the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) in 2007 and established by four students in Uppsala, Sweden and later in Beijing, China. Two years after its inception, GlobalFOCUS is based in two offices in Europe and Asia and supported by consultants working for GlobalFOCUS in London and Boston. GlobalFOCUS’s support and management of climate change projects is framed by a vision of a sustainable future and every project has its own specific goals and target groups. According to Arne Forstenberg, executive director, GlobalFOCUS
“emphasizes the need for action and a global perspective”. He encourages anyone with an idea for a project to contact GlobalFOCUS. The organization usually supports schemes by providing practical advice and expertise, useful contacts or even by helping to raise funds for projects. Project ideas vary, but a majority aim to influence policy makers or investors, and raise awareness of climate change. The organization has already undertaken more than thirty projects worldwide and GlobalFOCUS aims to implement more than thirty-five thousand other schemes by 2035. It is currently running initiatives in Scandinavia, China and USA, involving over three thousand young people. GlobalFOCUS’s programmes, lectures, and workshops are concerned with global ecological problems and strive to find new ideas to combat climate change.
Sustainable development underpins the projects, based on the understanding that this presents the most realistic opportunity to tackle global warming for GlobalFOCUS. The philosophy of GlobalFOCUS considers courage, will and strong leadership as essential for solving the thorny issues of the twenty-first century. Applying these traits to its operations, GlobalFOCUS supports various youth enterprises in every corner of the world. GlobalFOCUS is open to anyone inspired and motivated to run their own climate project, with the aim of encouraging climate visionaries and entrepreneurs. Citizens not indifferent to global warming and those wanting to work with targeted climate change solutions should not hesitate to contact the permanent GlobalFOCUS members. “If you want to have fun you need a challenge. Creating
11
Egle Buitvydaite Egle is from Lithuania and she has been interested in journalism since she was knee-high to a grasshopper. An enthusiast writer, she will be starting her studies in Finance and International Relations at Oxford University this autumn.
RESOURCE BOX GlobalFOCUS:
Arne of GlobalFOCUS in China
www.globalfocus.net
a sustainable future for the planet; this is a challenge. If we are to deal with this challenge we need to think and organize ourselves in new ways,” says Arne Forstenberg. GlobalFOCUS’s keynote ambition is to cut down global greenhouse gas emissions and lead different projects worldwide in harmony with this objective. “Everyone who is creative, thinking globally, ready to work hard and have fun should definitely join the GlobalFOCUS network,” emphasizes Arne Forstenberg. Besides GlobalFOCUS’s permanent entrepreneurs, the organization has five hundred members in its facebook group and plenty of active members currently running their own projects. Today GlobalFOCUS is initiated by WWF and is formally a project that manages schemes lead by several project leaders around the world. Yet, there is a joint GlobalFOCUS and WWF vision to develop GlobalFOCUS into a self
sustaining organization. This might be reached by strengthening and expanding the organization’s network. It is GlobalFOCUS’s ambition to launch a new web platform for climate entrepreneurs called ‘ACT’ and this might just be the crucial step that grants GlobalFOCUS autonomous status.
Contact E-mail: Arne Forstenberg arne@globalfocus.net General contact@globalfocus.net Contact telephone: +46 736 87 11 48 Resources Global Warming www.globalwarming.org Comprehensive website about Climate Change. WWF www.wwf.org World Wide Fund for Nature website. WWF conceived GlobalFOCUS. UNEP www.unep.org United Nations Environment Programme website: Environment for Development. TUNZA www.unep.org/tunza The Youth program of UNEP UN FCCC unfccc.int United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The website also provides information about how to attend the Copenhagen Climate Conference 2009 as an observer. Youth Climate Conference www.ycc2009.org Youth Climate Conferences. Spreading the word about climate change related activities for youngsters in 2009.
Participants at a GlobalFOCUS training in China
Climate Change Education climatechangeeducation.org Climate Change education: lots of information about the topic.
| MEDIA
Europocket
when tv goes digital
by Francesca Ranazzi
Informative, brief and bold, Europocket TV provides
platform of audio-visual contents on the European Union and it’s institutions as well as culture, solidarity,
a unique
Thanks to the internet, Europocket TV has created a unique environment which stimulates debate and reflection among
environment, travel and entertainment.
young Europeans, changing and renewing broadcasting dynamics.
Located in Valencia, Spain, Europocket TV has its real home on the Net, where all news and entertainment contents are provided in downloadable and easy-to-consume packages. The popularity of this web TV project has increased as it has become a reference point for young people across Europe, as the Sky News European correspondent, Greg Milam reported: “the success of the channel suggests a level of interest in Europe among youth that might give the EU greater hope for the future.” Many of the journalists involved with this project are European, but the themes and issues covered and developed by the young journalists reflect an international and global vision, ranging from the Kyoto Protocol to the FAO Rome Summit, Refugees to the EU Visa laws. Despite the fact that Europocket TV is shaped by young European journalists, as an online product and digital platform it is accessible to audiences all over the world. The impartiality and integrity of Europocket TV journalism is guaranteed by the independence of its staff who, without any commercial linkages to powerful institutions or organisations of the EU, are free to provide unbiased content. Europocket TV utilised a small fund from the European Parliament to kick off the project, and now operates thanks to collaborations and partnerships with youth organisations and universities all over the world. Presently, Europocket TV can cover news and special events in almost every EU member state: cities in Russia, in the UK and many other countries host one or more correspondents hired by the Spanish editorial staff. Europocket TV has also tried to promote a multi-lingual platform since 2006, producing content in English, Spanish and French. They hope to roll out German language content in the near future as well. The variety of countries involved and the availability of content in three languages are fundamental elements for reaching 150 million young Europeans. The channel is focused on communitarian themes and wants to keep its audience informed about Europe and daily news, while stimulating discussion and participation. The programmes are edited in a modern and original format, in which information and entertainment are mixed with humour and fiction. The TV provides contents in pocketsized presentations in three different sections: EPK News - studio-recorded weekly info-pills on EU affairs; Europocketers - periodic reports
13
The Europocket TV crew
by Europe correspondents; and the Brussels Buzz - information about EU law and politics with presenter-led focus. There is also a special section called Zoom, which provides a space for young people to send their own recorded audiovisual fiction. Europocket TV’s drive for inclusiveness is demonstrated by the opportunity for users to provide comment and feedback on contents and propose themes for development, drawing its strength and vitality from virtual participations and the commitment of young European people, who want to design “the Europe that they want to live in”, according to staff. Today, the dynamic editorial team is comprised of Benoit, Delphine and Marianne from France; Diana and Vera from the Azores Islands, Portugal; Liselotte from Holland; Méabh from Ireland; Monika from Poland; Simone from Italy; Clara, Vicenç and Helena from Spain. The website proclaims that all are graduates or undergraduates in journalism, PR or European politics, guaranteeing expertise and background knowledge for its content. Surfing the different sections and programmes, their capabilities and passion are evident. At the heart of the important work done by Europocket perhaps this comment from its own staff helps sum up its wide appeal:
“We can not make you rich but we might make you famous”.
Francesca Ranazzi Francesca graduated from ‘La Sapienza’ University of Rome, majoring in Communications Science, and is interested in technologies and communication. Although from Italy, she now lives in Sydney, Australia.
RESOURCE BOX Europocket TV www.europocket.tv Contact: contact@europocket.tv
Creating your own TV Glomera www.glomera.com Possibly the easiest way to create an internet-based TV channel Mogulus www.mogulus.com A broadcast platform on the internet allowing users to broadcast live content on their own website UStream www.ustream.tv A platform for live, interactive broadcasts, that enables anyone with a camera and an Internet connection to easily broadcast to a global audience of unlimited size. World TV www.worldtv.com It helps you simply and quickly create your own full screen TV channel
| POLITICS
WIMPS: Bringing Democracy to the Youth by Fizza Hasan
While youth are perceived as volatile, hostile and infantile, sadly many adults are not rated too highly by their younger counterparts, especially if they have anything to do with politics. Luckily WIMPS is a new project all set to change things around. Though the name may suggest otherwise, WIMPS is a very cool, very innovative project currently run by some 14 young people, ‘the crew’, based in Northern Ireland. Launched in 2004, WIMPS or ‘Where Is My Public Servant?’ uses a postcode database to connect young people and politicians. Once registered through a simple process, Northern Irish youngsters can use their postcode to locate their elected representatives, from local councilors to Members of Parliament and Members of the European Parliament. They can then send messages to the public servants about issues that concern them. A project of Public Achievement, WIMPS is a combination of ICT and Public Achievement’s mission, ‘Building
Democratic Communities Together’. According to WIMPS, technology has been a “social-leveler” as WIMPS is accessed by youth who are “traditionally underrepresented in youth civic engagement projects, including young people with physical and learning disabilities”. In fact, the use of ICT aimed at community development has taken WIMPS to the ‘Stockholm Challenge Awards’ (2008) finals in the Education category. WIMPS’ greatest attraction, certainly, is the multimedia aspect, especially video-making; Ben Preston says ‘young people love [it]’. Both the youth and elected representatives of Northern Ireland have responded positively to WIMPS. There were 326 registered website users in the first year alone. Thanks to WIMPS, many youngsters
have begun to see their role in the political process and have gained an important understanding of how politics works. After a ‘political speed dating’ event, sixty-one percent of the participants said that they “would like to get more involved with their local council.” WIMPS has brought politics to youth, especially those with disabilities and from underprivileged backgrounds. It has also allowed politicians to understand the role of youngsters as citizens, made them more aware of youth concerns and given them a platform to communicate with this segment of the society. It seems as if WIMPS will succeed in bridging the gap. But Wimps is not just about postcodes and politicians. WIMPS staff, volunteers and site users update the site on a daily basis
15 WIMPS hosts an array of activities driven towards developing communication between youngsters and politicians, including: HOT-SEAT A section housing audiovisual interviews of leading politicians from various political parties; all of these interviews have been conducted by youngsters themselves. The WIMPS team provides technical instruction wherever necessary. YOUR PROJECT Youth-led projects are brought into the spotlight in this section and can be used by young people to advance their specific interests. Members can not only upload an introduction to their project and themselves, but also upload documents, posters, video clips and articles useful for people interested in what they are doing. There is also a section titled ‘What Next’. If the project needs any assistance it will go in this section. ‘What Next’ has proven to be very effective for acquiring volunteers or other resources for projects.
Fizza Hasan Fizza has just completed her IB Diploma and is going to study International Relations and Politics at university. Actively involved in youth action and development projects, she loves to combine her academics with her passion for community service..
ISSUES What are the concerns of young people? What is the world saying about young people? What reports have been submitted by government or international bodies regarding youth? All of these questions will be answered in the ‘ISSUES’ section of the website. In short, the WIMPS website is a paradise for youth activists.
An Overview of WIMPS’s activities They can put on the website a lot of contents about several issues they’re interested in, projects they’re working on…And they can take action, for example they can organize a campaign or make a film on a specific issue which is relevant to them, or decide to interview a politician to get his views on something important for them. And everything with the support of a well-structured, serious (but funny!) organization like Public Achievement, where everybody is committed to do his best to help the young people. Martina Caterina, WIMPS
with articles and information about a range of issues of interest for young people, and reports on projects and issues that groups of young people are working on. Young people all over Northern Ireland can also contact the site to receive direction and advice on how to take action on community issues affecting them. According to a report by the UK Electoral Commission, the WIMPS team had “delivered 27 events” as of January 2008. That figure
rose significantly in 2009. These events have included website introduction sessions and workshops on politics. Besides this, members of the WIMPS team work with youth to record interviews and film youth projects. Ben Preston, WIMPS co-coordinator, estimates the number of youngsters with whom the WIMPS team has interacted to be in the “thousands”.
RESOURCE BOX WIMPS www.wimps.org.uk Contacts: info@wimps.org.uk For activists and campaigners: www.millioncampaignhomepage.net www.dopolitics.org.uk www.bbc.co.uk/schools/citizenx Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations www.faf.org/programs/ unyouthassembly/ya_overview.htm United Nations and the Youth www.un.org/youth
| SOCIAL
YoungVoices: Fostering Inclusion in Northern Ireland By Luciana Grosu
The Young Voices project involves any young people who have been inside the criminal justice system. These young people are mainly between 14 and 18 years old. Yet, Mat Crozier, Young Voices Development Worker also works with 16-21 year olds who have been involved in crime, as well as 8-13 years olds who are ‘at risk’ of becoming involved in crime. Much of the project’s work is done with young people who are in custody, sent there by decision of the court. The meetings take place in either Woodlands Juvenile Justice Centre, which is run by the Youth Justice Agency or Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre, which is a Northern Ireland Prison Service facility. Young people involved in crime are often among the most marginalized in society. The vast majority of them come from poor areas and a significant percentage of them have also lived in foster care, children’s homes or both. There is a long list of issues that affect them: family problems, homelessness, drug and alcohol use, unsafe sex, unemployment, mental health, suicide.
That makes them the hardest to engage group of people. Invitation alone is not enough for these young people. They don’t participate in youth groups or programmes, unless they are required to do so by a court order. It is not easy to convince them of the value of openness and trust. Reintegration - a real challenge First of all, it’s a matter of attitude. The most important thing is to “show young people that you respect them, no matter who they are and regardless of what they have done - they deserve respect because they exist”, says Mat Crozier of the Young Voices project. Young people enjoy being listened to and relish the knowledge that their views will have an impact. So, you really need to stay true to your word and keep to promises whenever working with these young people. But “getting policy makers and politicians to actually listen to young people involved
in crime is the hardest part of the work”, admits Mat Crozier who nevertheless proudly mentions some of Young Voices’ successes. It is not easy for these young people to start a new life. “They have built their identity, self-esteem, self-confidence and a sense of belonging (around a life of crime). They are accepted and respected by their young peers involved in crime, but not by the rest of society”, explains Mat Crozier. Although few young people keep in contact after their release, Mat Crozier says some of the youth he has worked with in the community have stayed in touch for a number of years. There is much that can still be done to improve the lives of these young people. A change is needed Mat Crozier believes in prevention. He thinks there should be more appropriate and stimulating activities to engage youth in the communities where they live as “I
am constantly told by young people that the reason they initially got involved in crime was because they were bored. They felt there was nothing for them to do, nothing as exciting and attractive as crime....” Also, Mat Crozier thinks the age of criminal responsibility in the UK should be increased: “In the UK [the age of criminal responsibility] is scandalously low: 10 years old. How [can you] expect a 10 year old to be able to decide what is right and what is wrong?” The low age of criminal responsibility means more children are criminalised and enter the justice system at an early age. This is neither good for the
child nor the system in general. Mat Crozier plans to establish partnerships with organisations that have the same ambition for public good. He would like Young Voices to expand and work with more individuals involved in crime, especially young people in custody. “I would like society to get to the point where they do not see crime as being deviant from normal human behaviour, but to recognise it as a natural and reasonable response to the circumstances and experiences that many young people live through” he concludes.
17
Luciana Grosu Luciana is an experienced jorunalist and writer, having been involved in a number of youth publications and books both in Europe and elsewhere. She is currently pursuing a degree in Journalism and Communications and a second one in Psychology.
Young Voices’ achievements • Young Voices participants have been quoted in the United Nations report on the UK’s progress regarding the implementation of the UNConvention on the Rights of the Child • Young Voices’ views are currently being used to shape the strategy to address knife crime in Northern Ireland • Following discussions on child protection issues with young people in the Young Offenders Centre, an advocacy service has been established within the prison • YoungVoices has succeeded in improving the lives of marginalizedyouths: - On a number of occasions homeless participants have been helped to find accommodation - A participant has been successfully supported in applying for a job - Another participant who had been unemployed for some time was helped to identify and undertake a place on a training course to become a carpenter - In general, young people often say they feel more confident, more respected and more knowledgeable as a result of their involvement in Young Voices Mat of Young Voices
RESOURCE BOX Include Youth: managing Young Voices www.includeyouth.org/ www.peermediation.org/ Contacts: Mat Crozier - Young Voices Coordinator mat@includeyouth.org Nicola Farrell - Young Voices Worker nicola@includeyouth.org EQUAL ec.europa.eu/employment_social/ equal/index_en.cfm The EQUAL Initiative brings fresh ideas to the European Employment Strategy and the Social inclusion process. Its mission is to promote a better model for working life by fighting discrimination and exclusion. SALTO-Youth www.salto-youth.net/InclusionOffenders A host of resources, ideas and initiative to start inclusion-related projects specifically targeting young offenders Smart Justice www.smartjustice.org
Participants with Ms. Patricia Lewsley, Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People
Participants with Ms. Cherie Blair
SmartJustice is a unique resource that provides comprehensive information on initiatives that are effective in changing offenders’ behaviour, stopping crime before it starts and tackling the causes of crime for adults and young people.